Tag: Reserved Matters
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Gareth Evans: The Devolution of the Crown Estate in Wales
On 22 July 2025, the Crown Estate (Wales) Bill passed unopposed through report stage in the House of Lords. The Bill, which seeks to devolve the management of the Crown Estate in Wales, was introduced as a Private Members’ Bill in the Lords by the former leader of Plaid Cymru, Lord Wigley. This is by…
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Michael Foran: Sex, Gender, and the Scotland Act
Yesterday, the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was heard at Stage 3. If it receives royal assent, it will amend the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to make it easier for people in Scotland to change their legal sex. This has proven to be extremely controversial, prompting calls from some feminist groups that the introduction of…
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Chris Himsworth: Referendum Bill Consequentials
At paras 56-57 of their judgment, the court in Reference by the Lord Advocate of devolution issues ([2022] UKSC 31) declared: “The central issue is whether legislation for a referendum on Scottish independence would relate to a reserved matter…. The critical question is accordingly whether the proposed Bill would relate to the Union of the Kingdoms of…
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Leah Trueblood: What is the ‘purpose’ of the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill?
What is the purpose of the referendum proposed in the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill? Is it, as s 1 (1) of the Bill itself says ‘to ascertain the views of the people of Scotland?’ Or is the aim – either directly or indirectly – the dissolution of the United Kingdom? If the purpose is only to…